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Surgical Procedure Benefits

When comparing the Nuss Procedure to older “open” surgical options,
there are several benefits of the procedure’s less invasive method.

The primary benefits include a shorter operating time, less blood
loss, and smaller, less visible incisions.1 Some clinical
data also suggests that because no cartilage or pieces of rib are
being removed during the procedure, the patient’s chest and rib cage
will be able to grow and repair itself in a natural
manner.2 The combined effect of these benefits means that a
patient’s body is subjected to less trauma compared to other open
surgery options. The Nuss Procedure is a widely-accepted effective
method for treating pectus excavatum.2

Lung Function Matters

Research focusing on the Nuss Procedure indicates that post-operative
patients, who have had the bar removed, show significant improvement
in lung capacity as tested by “Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 Second”
or FEV1. This data suggests that these patients have similar or
equivalent lung function to healthy individuals with no history of
Pectus Excavatum. 3,4,5,6,7 This demonstrates that a
patient’s lungs may be able to transfer more air and function more
efficiently following treatment with the Nuss Procedure and removal of
the Pectus Support Bar.8

Heart Function Matters4

Healthcare professionals use function tests to evaluate how well (or
poorly) certain organs are working within the body. The results of
function tests are always compared to a “reference range” which is a
range of values that would be observed in healthy people of similar
age, sex, race, etc. to the patient. Heart function is evaluated in
this way.

The values may be within the reference range when they were
not before surgery or

The values are closer to the
reference range than before surgery.

Specific tests to measure heart function:

Improved “Maximum Cardiac Index” which is a measure of how
well the heart performs compared to the size of the
patient4,6

Improved “Stroke Index” which is a
measure how efficiently a patient’s heart pumps
blood4,6

Increased “Oxygen Pulse” which is a
measure of the amount of oxygen delivered to the bloodstream during
each heartbeat while the patient is resting4,6

All of the above measurements contribute to improved heart and
lung function. Benefits of improved cardiopulmonary function might
include more stamina during exercise, not tiring as quickly, and the
ability to participate in sports for a longer period of time than
was possible before the corrective procedure.9

Recurrence Rate Matters

When considering a corrective surgery, many patients are concerned
that their deformity will reoccur. Published data evaluating the
success rate of the Nuss procedure, indicates that recurrence is
reported in less than 2% of cases.10, 11, 12,12, 14, 15,
16 A high probability of successful deformity correction and a
low chance of recurrence is a significant benefit of the Nuss Procedure.

Quality of Life Matters

Aside from the potential physical benefits of the Nuss Procedure,
surgeons may assert that humanistic or quality-of-life measures such
as “satisfaction with appearance” and “increased confidence after
surgery” should also be considered when evaluating the success of the
surgery.17,18 Some of the more common aspects of humanistic
outcomes include:

Confidence towards change of appearance after surgery

Better body feeling after surgery

Better
self-acceptance after surgery

General satisfaction

General interest in sports

Higher self-confidence after
surgery

Being more sociable after surgery

The response data in clinical research shows that patient
satisfaction after surgery is high and approximately 82% of parents
believe their child to be “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with the
results. These results indicate that the likelihood of a patient
being satisfied with the results of the Nuss Procedure, barring
complications, is high.18,19

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Zimmer Biomet or its affiliates unless otherwise indicated, and must
not be redistributed, duplicated or disclosed, in whole or in part,
without the express written consent of Zimmer Biomet.

To find a doctor near you, click the ‘find-a-doc’
link. For printed information on joint replacement, call 1-800-447-5633.

Talk to your surgeon about whether joint replacement or another
treatment is right for you and the risks of the procedure, including
the risk of implant wear, loosening or failure, and pain, swelling and
infection. Zimmer Biomet does not practice medicine; only a surgeon
can answer your questions regarding your individual symptoms,
diagnosis and treatment.

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